This simple chart demonstrates when your math sequence can generate college credit alongside high school credit.
Typical Math Progression
- Arithmetic (grades K-8)
- Pre-Algebra (grades 6-9)
- Algebra 1 (grades 8-10)
- Geometry (grades 9-10)*
- Algebra 2 (grades 10-12)
- Trigonometry / Pre-Calculus (grades 10-12)
- Calculus (grades 10-12)
*Geometry may fit between Algebra 1 and 2, after Algebra 2, inside the Algebra course, or omitted entirely. Each math curriculum publisher handles this subject slightly differently.
Duplication of Time & Effort
We often think of college classes as significantly harder or more advanced than high school classes, but in the math sequence, once your teen hits a certain level, they are already doing the same math that they’ll do in college. Since high school math is never worth college credit, teens often have to retake a subject they’ve already learned. This duplicates their time, effort, and money! If you want to streamline the process, you can use college-level math in high school when they hit that point in the typical math sequence.
More About Each Path
Non-STEM 4-year degree: Students earning a 4-year degree in a major that is not Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM), often do not have math requirements. Most non-STEM majors don’t have math requirements. The “general education” requirement will have some type of math, but you can shop around for low-math colleges if desired. The college’s “general education” requirement will be the minimum for everyone in every major, so non-STEM majors could still have a high general education math if they attend a “mathy” college. Always look at a target college’s “general education” requirements. Since most colleges will only require 1 general education math class, you can find your target college’s math requirement on the chart above and see how much math is required to get there. The number usually indicates the level of difficulty. For instance, MATH105 should be easier than MATH121, but this is more of a guideline than a rule.
STEM 4-year degree: Students earning a 4-year degree in a STEM major (or business) will have math requirements beyond the “general education” core and many will serve as prerequisites for other classes. (example: Calculus 1 credit may be a prerequisite to registering for General Physics) Occasionally, a STEM major’s math “starts” at Calculus 1, so lower maths like Precalculus may not “count” towards their degree, but this is low-hanging fruit. Always grab the low-hanging fruit! I’ve met hundreds of people who changed majors or changed colleges, so it’s never a bad idea to have extra math credit “in the bank.”
Other: If your student is looking at a short-term training, 2-year degree, license, apprenticeship, vocational program, or something other than a 4-year degree, their math requirements may look very different from the chart above! Many occupations require specialized math. When you notice a different suggested course of study, you’ll want to pay attention to the suggested sequence. A student preparing to be a welder or pipefitter needs solid geometry skills. The more you know about their target occupation, the better prepared you’ll be at guiding them. In another scenario, a teen who attends cosmetology school may not have a math requirement at all. Still, bookkeeping and business math are excellent math choices for a student who might one day open a salon of their own.
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If a college says, three units of college preparatory mathematics, do you think something like consumer math would count or would my son benefit more from taking a lower level college math in addition to Algebra 1 and 2 to meet the three unit requirement? Hopefully that makes sense. Thank you!
If you need your son to meet admissions requirements for THAT COLLEGE and they are asking for “college preparatory mathematics” that means they are looking for a traditional sequence. High school courses would include Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry at a minimum. Higher/extra high school (precal/trig/calculus) could be the 4th math. You could look forward to that college’s general education math requirement and use THAT as part of your plan. If it is Precalculus, for example, is the college requirement, then instead of doing precalculus high school I would substitute it out with the precalculus for college credit option. That then checks every box and is the most efficient. If your student’s general education math requirement will be too hard at THAT COLLEGE, simply choose a different college with a lower gen ed math.
You may also find this post useful. https://homeschoolingforcollegecredit.org/2024/05/10/math-success-4-math-averse-3/
Curious if anyone has insight as to how similar College Algebra is with Algebra II? Some of what I read and hear says these 2 courses are very similar, but I’m not sure and I want to ensure a strong mathematical foundation.
I have a very strong math student and will do Algebra II if necessary but the thought crossed my mind to skip that and do College Algebra after geometry to maximize dual enrollment. He is just starting 9th grade and has almost a year of college done, so he is very capable. I would love insight from anyone that has experience with this and how you handled it with your student.
College Algebra could more appropriately be called “Algebra III” as it includes precalculus. My advice is to complete Algebra II in its entirety. If you’re using the same brand that you used for Algebra I, it’s likely that you could accelerate the process a little by skipping the early chapters which are usually review. You could also proceed at a faster pace to complete in 1 semester instead of 1 year. If you can accomplish that, you can try College Algebra for second semester (with Algebra 2 having been first semester). College Algebra isn’t always the path for pre-STEM but you could scoop it up just the same. I hate leaving credits on the table. When you switch to college classes, the course will take place in 1 semester instead of 1 year, so if your 9th grade is: Algebra II + College Algebra, then 10th grade would be: Precalculus + Calc 1. That leaves 11th and 12th grade for maths beyond Calculus 1. That is a very aggressive plan, and one that might be appropriate for your student. If not, you can keep Algebra 2 and Geometry as 9th & 10th and then begin Precal instead of College Algebra for 11th grade. Hope that helps!